So the 100 degree weather finally left the Chicago area and we're back to upper 80s and 90s which in comparison is totally and completely comfortable. Over the last three days we've been making the most of our mornings and trying to get some much needed outside time before the temps get too high. We've been walking down to the river where there's always a nice breeze and sitting on the steps that are completely in the shade thanks to some beautiful landscaping. Birds are just everywhere and there's a little tiny squirrel that has been hanging around too. Bugs are everywhere and James points out every single ant he sees. He announces them to me, "Mom - there a ant Mom. He minding his business Mom."
Chalk drawing has been fun and since there are stairs James has been rolling things down the stairs to see if they make it to the bottom. Pine cones don't really work. Chalk works sometimes. A full water bottle will roll down really quickly and James just laughs the whole time. He runs down the stairs to get the bottle and then all the way back up the stairs to do it again. He tells me he wants to do it "100 times Mom." Sure. Go for it. It's such a nice area to have because we're outside, I can sit, we're in the shade and we have a beautiful river to watch. Also ... we're close to a bathroom. Not for James' sake but mine. I'm now counting down the DAYS until the due date so a bathroom is key when outside. It's at a bar. Don't judge me. It's an Irish pub we used to go to all the time pre-James and it's a great place. Today, at 10am, James and I were in the pub using the bathroom :) Just so glad they were open and let me in.
Yesterday I had my 37 week appointment and things are going well (thank God!). The baby's heart rate was high 140s low 150s again and I'm measuring a week ahead again. It's always so nerve wracking to hear the list of things that require a call to the doctor's office immediately - slowing down of movement or no movement, bleeding, fluids coming out, contractions 10 minutes apart. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. It's that time again! I told my doctor I feel like a first timer again because with James I never really went into labor mode - I was induced at 41 weeks, 1 day. So ... again, I'm on alert :) In related news, I tried on a pair of maternity shorts that I purchased in the spring and upon seeing me James said, "Mom that not okay." I agreed and put my wonderful camouflaging black skirt on again. Immediately.
Anyway, here are the photos from the last 3 days!
Monday
James drew this picture of Bo - I was very proud. He's starting to give shape to bodies and knows to make eyes and ears, etc. Exciting times :)
James is wearing painters tape around his belly and his baby "nora" to stop his contractions. He makes these belts for me at home.
Rolling the water bottle down the stairs
The bottle lands ... and our artwork!
So excited to get the bottle to do it again - seriously, James could have done this all day long.
For any of our animal activist readers, this may be graphic for you. James found caterpillars and after I took this he said, "Mom! Now there two caterpillars!"
Yeah ... he made one caterpillar into ... two caterpillars. I have since explained that this hurts the caterpillars and that maybe we should just hold them and let them crawl on us. He's such a good child, he listened.
Picking up one of the 'halves' of the caterpillar
Tuesday
Me and my buddy at Yolk for a post-doctor's appointment lunch date :)
Wednesday
Eating snack and telling the birds to "shoo" - these little birds were stalking us - it's like they could sense there was a toddler eating goldfish and that a spill of crumbs was in their future.
At our spot, assessing the chalk situation
Joy
Playing with his tape measure - pretending it's a hose
Doing 'landscaping' - he was imitating the men working in the garden planters
My big guy
Pretending the tape measure is a fountain :)
The fountain James is imitating
We're getting close. Really close. I just can't believe that the summer has gone by so quickly. I feel really lucky to be able to be spending this wonderful time with James. I try to really remind myself to be fully present in these moments - making smoothies, playing outside, walking, listening to his questions, his stories, bath time, making dinner, reading, coloring ... because it's just us. Me and my buddy. Sometimes I just want to say to him, "you know how much I love you right? you're my baby but my big boy and you'll always be my first child, and when the baby comes I'm still loving you with all my heart all the way to the universe and back ..." but then I think better of it, reign myself in and realize it's just my anxiety about welcoming another child into our family. I think I worry so much because I know how sensitive he is and I remember how tired I was when James was first born. I'm already praying for the patience and understanding and calm that I'll need to make sure that everyone is taken care of (including me) and that everyone feels loved. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy everyday the most that I can and take it minute by minute. Again though, I am so thankful to Doug and feel really blessed to be home with James and to spend this time together before the baby comes. It's really a gift and it's a gift that I intend on enjoying to the fullest.
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